It will also move ahead with another lawsuit against Columbia Township in its dispute over sewer rates.

Leoni Township Supervisor Todd Brittain said the lawsuits with the southern interceptor townships would be filed as soon as possible, but declined, along with other board members, to say anything else on the matter until these were officially filed.

With Jackson County Drain Commissioner Geoffrey Snyder acting a mediator, negotiations recently led to this decision. During the Monday meeting three options were presented to move things in a positive direction.

All three options would have new monthly fees for sewer customers in Columbia, Hanover and Liberty. These would directly pay part of the remaining debt on the southern interceptor, which connects them to the Leoni Township sewer plant.

Leoni Township Treasurer Brenda Vreeland gave the motion on both decisions after the board of trustees came back from a closed session with attorney Thomas Daniels.

The first motion authorized the lawsuit to be filed at the earliest possible date to collect southern regional interceptor bond debt. The other did the same in order to seek compliance by Columbia with the sewer billing system.

Columbia Township Treasurer John Calhoun said he had hoped this would not have come to pass. However, he said Columbia is prepared and its legal team is well-versed in the disputed contract details.

“We are confident our point will be recognized by a judge,” Calhoun said.

Columbia states it has asked, but has not received an answer from Leoni on what rate increase would be needed to help pay off the debt. Calhoun said Leoni has simply said to the three townships, "pay off the remaining debt."